The Divine Liturgy of St. Tikhon is one of the liturgies authorized for use by the AntiochianWestern Rite Vicariate (AWRV). It is authorized for use in the AWRV in two forms—that of the Orthodox Missal and that of the Saint Andrew's Service Book.

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Origins of the Rite

The Liturgy of St Tikhon was produced in the 1970's for use by Episcopalians who wished to convert to Orthodoxy but retain the liturgy to which they were accustomed. The text of the liturgy, therefore, is based upon the Episcopal Church's 1928 Book of Common Prayer, along with certain features of the Mass of the Catholic Church prior to its reform after the Second Vatican Council, as well certain modifications to make it conform to Orthodox theology and practice (such as a strengthened epiclesis, the omission of the filioque from the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed). The adaptation of the rite was the work of Father Joseph Angwin. The naming of the liturgy after St Tikhon the Enlightener of America is based upon events that occurred when St Tikhon was the ruling bishop of the American diocese of the Church of Russia. Some Episcopalians who wished to become Orthodox asked Bishop Tikhon whether they might be allowed to continue to use their Anglican liturgy (that of the American 1892 Book of Common Prayer). He sent the BCP to Moscow, where a commission was appointed to examine they issue. The final report addressed the changes that would need to be made in the BCP in order to make it suitable for Orthodox worship, but neither the Commission nor Bishop Tikhon approved a rite.